The Broncos enter the 2008 NFL Draft with the 12th overall selection. It will mark the 33rd first-round pick for the Broncos since the inception of the common draft in 1967 as well as the 12th such selection under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.).  All-time, Denver has selected a player with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft just once. In 1971, the Broncos chose Southern California T Marv Montgomery with the 12th pick. Montgomery played six seasons with the Broncos (1971-76), appearing in 57 career games (25 starts) in a Denver uniform before finishing his career with New Orleans (1976-77) and Atlanta (1978).

Below is a look at the last 10 players selected with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Among the players selected at No. 12 overall during this time were Maryland LB Shawne Merriman (2005, S.D.), a three-time Pro Bowler, and Oregon DT Haloti Ngata (2006, Bal.).

   LAST 10 NFL DRAFT CHOICES AT NO. 12 OVERALL
Year  Team                   Player                       Pos.              School
2007 Buffalo           Marshawn Lynch           RB              California
2006 Baltimore       Haloti Ngata                  DT               Oregon
2005 San Diego Shawne Merriman            LB               Maryland
2004 N.Y. Jets       Jonathan Vilma              LB               Miami (Fla.)
2003 St. Louis       Jimmy Kennedy             DT               Penn State
2002 Arizona          Wendell Bryant               DT              Wisconsin
2001 St. Louis       Damione Lewis             DT               Miami (Fla.)
2000 N.Y. Jets       Shaun Ellis                     DE               Tennessee
1999 Chicago        Cade McNown               QB                   UCLA
1998 Atlanta           Keith Brooking               LB                Georgia Tech

The 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft also produced Miami DT Warren Sapp (T..B., 1995), who earned eight Pro Bowl selections while being named to the 1990s NFL All Decade Team and receiving the 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Florida State RB Warrick Dunn (T.B., 1997), a three-time Pro Bowler, and Southern California LB Clay Matthews (Cle., 1978), a four-time Pro Bowler, also were taken with the 12th overall pick in the draft.